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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-03-06, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil The Citizen Is published 50 times a year In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $28.00/year ($26.17 + $1.83 G.S.T.) in Canada; $80.00/year in U.S.A. and $100/year In other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolibited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are C Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mall Agreement No. 40050141 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 N0' I HO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhurongscsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca ocna CNA 67 Member of the Ontario Press Council liornraim Stuck in a vicious circle The decision of the Avon Maitland District School Board last week to close Seaforth District High School but not several other Huron County schools, is probably only a momentary reprieve for several communities which will likely feel the axe in future. Between losing the fifth year of high school and the continued decline in pupil numbers, pressure will continue on trustees to close schools to meet the requirements of the school funding formula. Without more robust growth across the county, pupil numbers in Huron will continue to drop. We must keep sending our younger generation out of the county to get education and the jobs they need to make use of that education, so there just aren't enough children being born to keep the schools full. And yet with each school that closes, it's that much harder to attract people to the county. People today worry more than just about a job, they want first class schools for their kids, top medical and hospital service, shopping and cultural attractions. As Huron East Mayor Lin Steffler says, a community without a secondary school, as Seaforth will be if this decision goes ahead, is going to have that much more difficulty in attracting industries and jobs. Without industries and jobs, there are fewer students for the schools. We're stuck in a vicious circle that threatens to become a downward spiral. As things like educational facilities and doctor shortages make it harder to create growth, the possibility diminishes of increasing the population to support the needed services. We need a concerted action to change this cycle. We need federal and provincial officials to work with municipal leaders to help create the conditions to promote the kind of growth that will save the infrastructure we already have as well as getting more. The "whatever will be will be" attitude of senior governments is a recipe for disaster for Huron County and all rural areas. — KR. An argument for godlessness In the name of their god last week, gangs of Hindus slaughtered and burned nearly 500 of their Moslem neighbours, triggered in turn by an earlier attack by Moslems which killed dozens of Hindus on a train. Meanwhile the holy war between Israeli Jews and their Arab neighbours continues to take a dreadful toll with Palestinian suicide bombers sure that God will promote them to heaven because of their selflessness in killing themselves in order to kill the evil Jews. Meanwhile Israel retaliates for each attack. The world is still reeling from Sept. 11, when terrorists believed God wanted them to slaughter innocent American civilians because troops from that infidel country were desecrating the holy soil of Saudi Arabia. And not that long ago we had the edifying sight of grownups throwing rocks at Catholic school girls as they went to school on the edge of a Protestant neighbourhood in Northern Ireland. If ever there was an argument for atheism, it's the actions of religious zealots who are sure they are acting on behalf of God. Before the fall of the the Soviet Union, people in the west feared "godless Communism" yet current actions make it seem maybe the communists had a good thing going. It shouldn't be that way. Most religions promote love and understanding but there's a certain segment of people who seek judgement and retribution instead. What's worse, they feel that it's up to them to act as God's servants in meting out His retribution. If we believe in a greater being who will have final judgement over our actions, we should be willing to leave it to that God to make the judgements and punish those who have transgressed. If God is as powerful as adherents of every religion claim, then He shouldn't need mere mortals to fight His battles for Him. Faith is a major component of all religions. Why then are so many adherents not willing to have faith that in the long run, their god will deal with the problem himself? If people would just stop playing god maybe God could bring the peace we seek. — KR Letters to the Editor Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2002 Editorials Opinions THE EDITOR, There's a lot of talk these days about the closing of schools in local communities, because of declining enrolment. No one wants their own child's school closed, but did you ever stop to think about the reason for the declining enrolment? Do the math! With 45,000 abortions every year in Ontario alone, at an average of 40 students per classroom, we are eliminating the equivalent of 1,125 classrooms every year. That's also 1,125 teachers we could have employed. By now, the hundreds of thousands of babies aborted between 1969 and 1984, if they had been allowed to live, would be working and paying taxes, and would be buying houses, cars, food, clothing, cds, furniture, vacations, etc. thus pumping millions of dollars into the Canadian economy every year. So yes, it's no wonder enrolment in schools, as well as the economy in general, is way down. We, as a society, only have ourselves to blame. Jean Hedley, RR 1, Holyrood, ON March 3, 1960 Groundhogs are supposed to know and Ken Wilbee saw one frolicking in the snow, so spring should have been just around the corner. A beverage room vote loomed for Brussels. The two questions on the ballot: 1. Are you in favour of men's beverage rooms? 2. Are you in favour of ladies beverage rooms? A good crowd enjoyed the Majestic WI concert. Mrs. R. W. Stephens introduced the program which included: piano duets, Mrs. Wm. C. King and Mrs. Wm. H. King; vocal solos, Marie Johnston, Brian Prescott; tap dance, Dorothy Keiffer; monologues, Marjorie Keiffer, Ivan Dow; vocal duets, Wm. H. King and Graeme MacDonald; one-act drama, North Huron Junior Farmers. Gwendolyn- Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Martin was chosen to go to Doe Lake for the Guide Golden Jubilee. Six new Brownies were enrolled in Brussels: Dorothy Elliott, Mary Gibson, Brenda Shaw, Joyce Huether, Sharon Henderson and Ann Oldfield. Three-year stars went to Lynne Workman and Joyce Kellington. Marni Bronson, Anne Lowe and Susan McDonald got two-year stars. Lynne Workman received her Golden Hand. Book Lovers badges went to Susan McDonald, Ann and Lynda Lowe, Marni Bronson, Ruth Gilkes, Joyce Kellington and Lynne Workman. Six new Guides were enrolled: Ruth McTaggart, Sally Galbraith, Darlene Machan, Bonnie Workman and Dianne Hastings. Audrey Wheeler got her four-year star, while Linda and Ruth Johnston, Gail Machan, Gwen Martin and Mae Myers got three-year stars. Eileen Baker got a second-year star. The former Omex toy factory in Seaforth was sold to Louis Waxman and Lloyd Michel of Brussels. James Mair was elected second vice-president of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies. It was the first time in 60 years that anyone from the community had received this honour and only the second time for anyone in Huron County. Ron Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Smith of Grey Twp., joined the staff of the Waterloo Cattle Breeding Association. After completing his high school education at Seaforth, he took the two-year diploma course at the Ontario Agricultural College and graduated in 1958. Ron was a top livestock judge and winner of the E.A. Summers Memorial Trophy for being the high man in the International Livestock Judging competition in 1959 at the Royal Winter Fair. March 5, 1986 Warner Andrews received the Auburn and District Lions Club's first Citizen of the Year award. In sports it's a game of inches. That was also the case in real estate development, particularly with the new Brussels supermarket. Demolition of the old Queen's Hotel was delayed because all the legal technicalities couldn't be cleaned up due to the fact that the structure was .85 inches onto the street allowance. Public speaking winners from the Grey/Brussels contest were Scott Johnston, Lori Willie, Wong Yee Fun and Tim Machan. March 4, 1987 A fourth generation of the Bainton family took over the Bainton Old Mill Ltd. retail operation. Franklin, Jayne, Amanda and Richard Snell, great-grandchildren of the company's co-founder Allen Bert Bainton took over the retail operation from their grandparents Franklin and Cenetta Bainton. Blyth was to become a multi- media centre when it became the location for a•movie from a play that originally was produced at Blyth Festival. Blue City Slammers, the movie version of Blue City, by Layne Coleman was to be shot in late May and early June. For the second time in a little over a year, Blyth was officially without a postmaster. Hessie Kipfer was transferred to the Zurich post office. Sarah Jean Allan of Blyth came in first in the junior division of both the Branch level and Zone level of the Royal Canadian Legion's annual Remembrance Day literary contest, with her poem, Significance of a Poppy. Winners of the ice sculpture contest at Walton Public School were Amy Siemon, Amanda Gamble, Jason Shortreed and Sandy Rikjhoff. They made forms of coloured ice then assembled them into a glittering castle. March 4, 1992 The Ministry of Natural Resources released wild turkeys on a Morris Twp. farm. This would be the first time in nearly a century that wild turkeys would be roaming bushland in Huron County. Jason McBurney and Robbie McGee's ice-sculpted fraggle won the senior prize at the East Wawanosh Public School winter carnival. March 4, 1998 It had been a February like no other with spring-like temperatures beckoning people outdoors. A Brandon Shanahan jersey sells for $550 at the Blyth Midget Bulldogs fundraising auction.